Dahlia plant named ‘Baldenink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Baldenink’, characterized by its semi-double type, pink-colored inflorescences having yellow tones in the center, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Dahlia variabilis.

Variety denomination: ‘Baldenink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Baldenink’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inVenhuizen, the Netherlands during October 2009. The objective of thebreeding program was the development of Dahlia cultivars that are freelyflowering with large flowers and a moderately vigorous, compact-uprightgrowth habit.

The new Dahlia cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Dahlia variabilisbreeding selection coded DGA08005, not patented, characterized by itsdouble-type, white-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage,and vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during August 2010 in a controlled environment inVenhuizen, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2010 in Venhuizen, the Netherlands and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Baldenink’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, pink-colored inflorescences having yellow        tones in the center;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color, flower-type, and growth vigor. The femaleplant has double-type, white-colored inflorescences, and a vigorous,mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Dahlia cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is Dalaya Shari ‘KLEDH10032’, notpatented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ fromplants of ‘KLEDH10032’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different        from plants of ‘KLEDH10032’, more specifically the upper surface        of fully open ray florets of ‘KLEDH10032’ retain a light yellow        to white coloration;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter        inflorescences than plants of ‘KLEDH10032’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more ray florets than plants        of ‘KLEDH10032’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baldenink’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Baldenink’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Baldenink’.

DETAILED BOTANIC DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in November 2015 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 8 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. The plants were pinched one weekafter transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the day andnight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Baldenink’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Dahlia variabilis breeding            selection coded DGA08005, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 32            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact-upright.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 38.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 15.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0            cm.        -   Branch.—Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 2.            Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately 12.5 cm.            Diameter at central internode: Approximately 6.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A with an overlay of 187A.            Length of central internode: Approximately 2.5 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 8. Type: Simple and trifoliate. Fragrance:            None. Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect: Petiole is acute angle            to stem; blade is somewhat perpendicular to stem. Shape of            leaf and leaflet: Elliptic. Margin of leaf and leaflet:            Widely serrate. Apex of leaf and leaflet: Acute. Base of            leaf and leaflet: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.        -   Simple leaf.—Length: Approximately 10.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:            Closest to N137A and venation of 147C with an overlay of            187B at base of midvein. Color of lower surface when first            and fully open: Closest to 191B with venation of 147C.            Length of petiole: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter of            petiole: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces of petiole: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower            surfaces of petiole: 147C with an overlay of 187B.        -   Mature trifoliate leaf.—Length of mature trifoliate leaf:            Approximately 12.5 cm. Width of mature trifoliate leaf:            Approximately 13.5 cm. Length of terminal leaflet:            Approximately 10.5 cm. Width of terminal leaflet:            Approximately 5.5 cm. Length of lateral leaflet:            Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of lateral leaflet:            Approximately 3.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:            Closest to N137A and venation of 147C with an overlay of            187B at base of midvein. Color of lower surface when first            and fully open: Closest to 191B with venation of 147C.            Length of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately            3.0 cm. Diameter of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of            petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: Glabrous. Color of upper            and lower surfaces of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf:            147C with a faint overlay of 187B. Length of rachis:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter of rachis: Approximately            4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of rachis:            Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces of rachis: 147C            with a faint overlay of 187B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baldenink’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year round in the            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 2 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Composite, semi-double,            persistent. Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Arrangement:            Terminal, arising from leaf axils on strong peduncles            positioned over the foliage. Disc and ray florets arranged            acropetally on a capitulum. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 2. Fragrance: Moderate, sweet. Shape: Rotate.            Inflorescence diameter: Approximately 9.5 cm. Inflorescence            depth: Approximately 4.0 cm. Disc diameter: Approximately            2.0 cm. Receptacle diameter at base: Approximately 1.1 cm.            Receptacle depth: Approximately 4.0 mm. Receptacle color:            150C to 150D.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 15.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A with a heavy overlay of 187A.        -   Bud.—Rate of bud opening: Generally takes 2 weeks for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 1.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblate. Depth at first            color: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at first color:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Outer            surface of the phyllaries is 154C with 144A at base, petals            of 70A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 34.            Arrangement: Imbricate, in multiple whorls. Aspect: Slightly            cupped. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute            to having 3 acute tips. Base: Fused into a short tube.            Appearance: Dull. Length: Approximately 4.3 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed. Color            of upper surface when first open: N74D with an overlay on            approximately the lower two-thirds of 34A with 11C. Color of            lower surface when first and fully open: 73B with stripes            and apex of 73D. Color of upper surface when fully open:            N74D with an overlay on approximately the lower half of 34A.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 58.            Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Aspect:            Erect. Shape: Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: 5 acute tips.            Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter at apex:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when fully open: 14B,            translucent.        -   Outer phyllaries.—Quantity: 5 to 6. Aspect: Flat, pointed            downward. Shape: Rhombic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width:            Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface: 137B. Color of tower            surface: 137A.        -   Inner phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 1 per floret.            Shape: Linear, imbricate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Truncate. Length of outermost: Approximately            2.2 cm. Width of outermost: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of            innermost: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of innermost:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 154D,            translucent with 143A at base of outermost.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: On disc florets. Stamen            quantity: 5 per floret. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm.            Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Anther color: 1A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:            21A. Gynoecium: On disc and ray florets. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: 2 branched,            perpendicular to style when fully expanded. Stigma length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma color: 21A. Style length:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Style color: 1A, translucent. Ovary            length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Dahlia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named‘Baldenink’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.